Martin Guitar

Nice tour of the factory and an understanding of how guitars are made. It’s wonderful to see people making things by hand! My wife said she thinks I would like working here

(In order)
Road Signs: Most people coming to Martin are probably going to take Route 33 then get off at the exit for 191 (Stockertown) and then drive thru a residential area to get to where the factory is at. All this is very easy as there are signs set up at each key spot needed and you truly should be able to find everything sans GPS.
Parking: Parking is a bit tight as the lot is quasi-​shared between employees, visitors with actual business at Martin and people taking the tour.
Tour Times: Here’s where some of the info posted on Unilocal gets a bit clueless in particular from Bryan M. Unless you’re bringing a group that is larger than ten no reservations are accepted/​needed. As for times, they’ve been on a Monday-​Friday schedule running tours between 11am-2:30pm for years now so I’m not quite sure what’s so limiting or the need to confirm anything.
Supposedly they attempt to start tours every thirty minutes but there is no exact set time as part of that is determined by what’s happening on the factory floor and how long it took the docent/​guide to finish up his/​her last tour as some groups ask a ton of questions.
Just be flexible as it’s free and they’ll get there when they get there.
Our «time» was 11:30 although we didn’t get underway until closer to 11:40−45ish. While you wait you can look around the lobby at the collection of records they have hanging on the wall that were made with a Martin, goof around with a few of the playable demos they have on the wall or even venture into the museum.
Tour: Like David C., we had the guide who looks like Phil Spector yet talks like a cross between Joe Pesci and Christopher Walken during the SNL Cowbell skit but that’s not to say that he wasn’t fantastic because he was. He knew every step of the process inside and out along with knowing seemingly the name of everyone working there.
Before the tour you are given a headset so that you can hear everything that the guide is saying which is needed as certain parts of the factory are very, very loud and you would never hear anything any other way.
The tour itself goes between 50 – 70 minutes depending on how many questions are asked and if certain work stations are operating or not. An example being that we came during lunch so several areas had nothing happening but when we were passing the area where the robotic buffing happens we hung out for a while to watch the machine start it’s process including putting the guitar down/​spinning it around to start the other side as the operator had just come back to the station from lunch.
Other than the area where the wood actually gets cut, you are close and personal with everybody you see. I mean close as in you could take stuff off of the work stations, read the technical info their reading or if they seemed approachable ask them a question or two directly. FYI on that last point, not everyone seems comfortable with direct contract with the public so if you ask someone a question be aware that they might ignore you or respond with only one word answers since they are working. The guys at the end who get to test/​play the finished product seemed to be the most friendly towards answering whatever was asked of them as our group stopped (much to Mr. Spector’s chagrin) for a few minutes to start asking them questions.
Eventually you are led back into the lobby where the tour begins and then you are given your parting gift of an inscribed cut out sound hole which is awesome and you have the ability to ask the guide some questions in peace & quiet which three or four guys did for quite a while as the next tour group waited.
As others have said, you can’t buy a Martin at the factory. There are plenty of catalogs in the lobby showing you the entire product line and if you’re interested they’ll be happy to either direct you to their website which has a list of all Martin dealers or they’ll give you a list you can take with you. On the tour you also learn that every Martin you see being made has already been spoken for via some sort of dealer/​custom order and that they’re usually around six months behind schedule. Although if you do need parts, they do sell that in town at the original factory building on West North Street.

You gotta’ love seeing craftspeople at work — practicing a skilled-​trade with spectacular results. Even without being a guitar player, I thoroughly enjoyed taking the tour through the Martin Guitar factory, as well as to the little museum. Both are free — but hours can be limited, so call in advance to confirm, or check the website.
Our tour was led by Mark, who is one of the leaders of the Custom Guitar section. He personifies the ‘grow their own’ model of hiring disciplined, detail-​oriented people who take pride in a job, and then training them and giving them opportunities to flourish and grow in the various production elements of the company. We spent almost two hours in a group of 15. The company’s decision to hold tours also reflects the focus on customizing the Martin experience to the individual.
The craftsmanship is spectacular. Almost makes this total incompetent, with respect to all things musical, want to learn to play guitar.
We were told that the firm does not sell direct. Guitars are purchased through dealers. So, there isn’t a showroom or sales pitch … but there are some playing rooms to try out different models.
One story shared by our guide leads me to believe that their current CEO — a fourth or fifth generation Martin — is a stud. At a trade show, not too long ago, the Martin team came across a booth selling counterfeits. Very audacious by that Chinese-​based manufacturer. Mr Martin walked straight up to the booth and began removing guitars from the rack and throwing them in the garbage right in front of the counterfeiters. No milquetoast equivocation.

Start to Finish: How The Experts Craft Guitars
Visiting Martin Guitars was an expectant highlight of our trip to Pennsylvania!
Entering the factory, we were greeted by the sounds of guitars. While waiting for the next tour to begin, half a dozen Martin Guitars hung on the wall invite visitors to enjoy. Some of the people on our tour showed off their talent.
The tour begins with a high-​level overview of the guitar materials and components. The guide provides much more detail as the tour progresses on the factory floor. Carpenters rough cut and plane the raw woods. Next, expensive machines laser cut the components with high precision. Surprisingly, the craft people hand-​assemble most of the guitar. After sanding down the bodies, robotics coat and polish the guitars. In final assembly, workers painstakingly apply the pearl work, string wires and tune each guitar twice before shipping. In total, more than 300 artful steps produce the famed C.F. Martin Guitar.
We were amazingly close to the workers as they carefully and skillfully completed their step in the fabrication process. Even though I have never played a guitar, the tour fascinated me with the guitar’s complexity. The plant tour is a must see for any guitar enthusiast!
After the tour, we explored the C.F. Martin & Co. Museum, featuring guitars and other instruments from the company’s long history. The museum displays guitars played by Elvis, Johnny Cash and others. In addition, extravagant pearl work covers the 1,000,000^th and 1,500,000^th guitars produced by C.F. Martin. The 1,500,000^th guitar, or the Da Vinci Guitar, replicates the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and the Vitruvian Man on the guitar.
Enjoy the free factory tour on a first-​come, first-​served basis. Tours run Monday through Friday, 11:00 AM — 2:30 PM. The gift shop sells great Martin Guitar souvenirs.

8÷27÷2013
Lengthy tour; interesting tour. The tours provide a good idea of the complexity and talent needed to build guitars, particularly on a mass scale. While the tour was thorough, the group size was too large and it was difficult to ask questions and get them answered. Also, only the front part of the group was able to see much of what the tour guide was talking about at the moment. The group size of 15 is too large for everyone to be able to see. Each person is provide a headset and receivers. The lowest volume setting on the receiver was nearly enough to make you lose a few percent of hearing after listening to the tour guide for over an hour. The pace of the tour at times seemed rushed while at other times seemed like eternity.
The museum in front of the building is great; a lot of time could be spent in it. The walls are decorated pictures of many stars that have used these guitars. Several guitars hang on wall for anyone to pick up and play.
This is a place where workers are encourage to play with the guitars they produce. Several were.

I live an hour from Martin, and so I’ve had the pleasure of doing the tour twice in the past year. A great experience for which I brought my wife the second time around so she could get a sense of why I’m a homer for these PA-​made guitars.
I can’t imagine what they’ve left out of the tour, from a huge warehouse-​type room of raw wood material to the polishing and playing of the final product. You get to see every step of the process from start to finish, and they’re quite proud of it.
I thought that watching the scalloped bracing being filed and the dovetail necks being fitted was particularly old world, and very cool.
As others have noted, there’s a spot in the lobby with some of the mid-​range guitars (and a uke) to play. By the desk in the gift shop is a door that takes you into a room with some upper-​end instruments to try out. You can hang in there and play as long as you wish, and there are some gorgeous instruments in there. If you’re a player with something less, you’ll probably leave like I did: Appreciating the work put into these guitars and wanting for an upgrade.
DO NOT miss the museum on the left when you walk in. The room doesn’t seem all that large, but there are a ton of vintage instruments in there, with a story to go along with each. It’s all nicely done, and I’d give at least 30 minutes to go through that part of the factory. The museum gives you a great sense of the history of the company, and highlights some of the special guitars that they’ve made over the years. The workmanship put into some of them amaze me.
The gift shop has T-​shirts, straps, picks, jackets, stickers, etc. It’s overseen by some pretty nice people in my experience, too.
Any musician, craftsman, music fan, history buff or someone generally interested in how things are made will love to take a tour and look around the museum.

I am a native to the area and yet had never been to the Martin Guitar Factory. I have moved away from the area, but while home for an extended visit around Thanksgiving I decided to check the factory tour off my local bucket list, even though I don’t even play guitar. (The tour is free!)
I arrived a bit after a tour had started, but since I was a party of one they added me to the tour that started about 3 minutes before I arrived rather than have me wait 30 mins for the next tour to start. I have been on many factory, brewery, etc tours and was blown away by the Martin Guitar Factory Tour. We were walked around the factor taking the path that the guitars travel during their minimum of 1 month process to be created. Instead of being separated by glass or far away with only a birds eye view, we were right up close and personal at each of the different stations, interacting with the workers/​artisans. Everyone we encountered was friendly. The process that each guitar goes through is amazing. The people who work at the factory have amazing skills and creativity. I also appreciated that even though we had a personal tour guide, everyone had a headset so that our tour guide didn’t have to yell for everyone to be able to hear clearly… nice touch Martin.
I also want to specifically point out how great I think our tour guide, Bert (i think that was her name), was. She has been working at the factory for many years, as evidenced by her knowledge of many of the stations (not sure what the correct word is) and he friendliness with the other workers. Through her narrative, I was also impressed with the Martin company. She has worked in many stations and departments and moved on from one to another as she mastered one and needed a new challenge. It is great that the company encourages it workers to continue to grow and expand their skill sets.
After our tour was finished, I walked through the lobby and museum (I was in a bit of a rush at the beginning to fully appreciate both. The lobby is nice and new and open. The museum is very informative and interesting. It took me through the beginning of the company with its founders in Germany through the move to New York and then Nazareth. I enjoyed hearing about how the company changed with the changes in musical trends and grew.
I was blown away by the tour, the process, and our tour guide. Even though it has been checked off my bucket list, I will not hesitate to take the Martin Guitar Factory Tour again.

I wanted to visit this place ever since a large box arrived at my home that said «Made in Nazareth, PA.» When it comes to guitars, for me the sun rises and sets with Martin. There are no other acoustic guitars.
Awesome that they make this factory so accessible to visitors!
Discovered the factory tour while visiting the distribution center for Porsche at Allentown. Made the frigid December trip to PA worth every minute. It’s only 20 minutes from the Allentown airport and about an hour from Philly.
Two years after that box arrived, my D16 plays true and it’s a thing of beauty to play as well as look at.
Thanks Martin.

Oh my God! This tour was so much more fun & interesting than I expected. My boyfriend plays the guitar & owns a Martin so he wanted to take a trip from NY to visit the factory and the musuem. He warned me a head of time that we were to behave! lol My 13 year old son joined us & I have to say we all LOVED it! the drive was exactly 2hrs from Manhattan & the town of Nazareth was beautiful. Spotless, well manicured & adorable. The CF MARTIN FACTORY was amazing! HUGE & SPOTLESS! The employees all bragged about what a great company Martin was to work for & how they loved their jobs. Each guitar is HANDMADE & it is AMAZING to see all the work that goes in to making each one. The tour lasted anout an hour and a ½ & our tour guide Ben was so nice & very informative. I had a great time & would love to do the tour again! Also, you must visit the old factory about 2 minutes away. They sell kits & parts that didnt quite make the inspection & the 2 women working there were also amazing (Liz & Gail, i think!) What a great day! What a great company! Oh and the tour is FREE!!!

Fantastic informational tour. I own a martin and this was a thrill for me to see the manufacturing side of the house. I was able to play the Clarence White D-​28 in the room by the gift shop, what a beautiful sounding guitar. The tour guide was very knowledgeable. I love the history of the company and it was great to see the passion the workers have in the product they put out.

Great tour. I play guitar and love Martins so this tour was an incredible experience. They take you through the entire factory. The best part is the room inside the gift shop with the Martin guitars. You can sit and play as long as you want. I was reminded why these guitars are the standard for acoustic music. Thanks Martin!

I made the pilgrimage to the nations oldest guitar manufacturer. I could smell the sawdust in the air. Our tour guide looked just like Phil Spector. I’m seriously jones for a triple o.

Awesome factory tour and museum. If you are a musician or music lover in general, then this place is for you. Martin Guitars have been made in Nazareth, PA for over 170 years! The facilities are well-​kept, there is plenty of free parking, and the museum is small but well done… plenty of information about the history of the company, and many different guitars are on display. The factory tour is fantastic also; a tour guide will take you through the actual factory where you will see these guitars being hand-​made. Our guide was pleasant, knowledgeable, and answered any questions that our group had. The tour took about an hour and we spent about 20 – 30 minutes walking through the museum. They have a nice little gift shop and an area where you can sit and play actual Martin guitars.

If you have even a passing interest in musical instruments, and, especially if you play the guitar, you will find the Martin factory tour well worth a visit. You are guided along the factory floor, where you witness the entire production process, from selection of the raw wood boards, to finished, gleaming works of art. Admission is free to the public.
The Martin family has owned-​and-​operated this business continuously since 1833, starting in NYC, then moving to this bucolic area of Pennsylvania shortly thereafter. Of course, the operation has expanded tremendously, but the instruments are still made by hand. The tour guide was proud of the fact that ordinary wooden clothespins and paper masking tape are still used to hold the guitars together while the glue dries.
Attached to the factory is an amazing guitar museum, filled with priceless, historically-​significant instruments, including Johnny Cash’s signature black dreadnaught, for which the Martin factory always kept a special, tiny bottle of black touch-​up paint on the shelf, just in case it was ever given the Willie Nelson treatment.

I’ve toured Martin’s factory a few times and learn something new each time. I recommend it for anyone who loves music, even for those who don’t play. Definitely check out the Pickin’ Parlor and the Museum while you’re there. There’s so much history and so many amazing instruments.
Recently purchased my first Martin and I love it. The craftsmanship is absolutely worth the money you pay for it.

The Martin company provides one of the most interesting factory tours I’ve ever experienced.
Most days, they have free tours from 11 – 2:30, every 20 minutes or so. It’s on a first come, first served basis, with approximately 14 people per tour.
We went on the day before Thanksgiving and ended up waiting about 40 minutes for a tour. This is absolutely fine, as there’s a small but interesting museum that chronicles the history of the Martin family and guitar company that can easily take an hour.
Conducted by a guitar factory worker at the end of his shift who clearly cared deeply about his craft, the 70 minute tour was extremely thorough. We crisscrossed the factory floor, witnessing each laborious step in creating a mostly hand-​made guitar. We learned about woods, glues, fronts, backs, necks, finger boards, frets, laminates, inlays, strings, and many other aspects of the Martin guitar.
At the end, you understand why these guitars are so classic (and so expensive). A wonderful way to spend a few hours, even for the guitar novice (I don’t play).
I just wish they still made banjos.